History in the Making

The God Who Knows

You know the Christian faith is alive and well when you receive multiple, unsolicited e-mails and texts from leaders saying that they're praying for you... on a day when you need it.

What Will Your Chapter Bring?

Ainsley and I got to visit Reston Community Church over the weekend - the plant we started eight years ago in northern Virginia. It was good to see old friends after a year and a half. Matt Morgan is doing a great job as pastor now, and the place was filled with people I'd never seen before.

I couldn't sit through the service without thinking about the very first living room gathering for the church - the only people who came were my Muslim hair stylist and our Jewish sales rep at the gym. Or the 12 people who decided with us to start services at the Reston Sheraton. Or the rag-tag "set-up crew" that fought bone-chilling cold to hang oversized banners in precarious places in Fairfax.

A really nice gal asked me after the service, "So did you used to come here?" I wanted to stand up on a chair... (Love the Dead Poets =)... and shout "What an incredible legacy you're a part of!" "You are the next chapter in this magnificent story God is writing in Reston! What will your chapter bring!??"

Maybe it's a Tumor

Something really weird happened to me yesterday.

I've been a runner since the 6th grade. And moving to Virginia Beach has renewed my license. This is one of the fittest cities in America, after all.

Anyway, I was running along a pretty busy thoroughfare yesterday... thinking... running... praying... more thinking... when I tripped on a curb.

Now, in my normal Matrix-like world of human capability, I would have done a roll into a yard or simply run faster to stay vertical. But not this time.

I dropped like a sack of potatoes.

It was like an out of body experience.

In what seemed like slow motion, I simply fell to the pavement without even trying to catch myself. I imagine the instant replay would have shown my face skidding across the sidewalk.

But even worse, I landed the wrong way on my elbow, turning me into the world's first unwilling human contortionist.

It was awful. Cars going 50 mph were literally stopping to see if I had been the victim of a heart attack or something.

As I stood up, blood pouring down my arms and legs, a wave of fever ran over my body with a dose of nausea. I hobbled home knowing full well that I have indeed officially arrived at "old."

I told Ainsley, "Who hurts themselves running!?"

So this is the only post I'm going to write today. I need a break. =)

Become a STORY Volunteer...

I have been BLOWN AWAY at the caliber of volunteers at STORY.

From Sherri Meyer who has produced the Willow Creek Arts Conference... to Jason Young who works with Tim Elmore in Atlanta... to Jonathan Bostic who creates the motion work for Catalyst... God is bringing together an incredible cast of people to make this event unforgettable.

There's room for you on the team. If you'd like to find out how you can volunteer, e-mail Amber Smyder at amber@orchardvalleyonline.com.

The Revolution Awaits a Programmer

There's a ton of world-changing that could go on if only computer programmers were in on it.

I never have to look far for designers, photographers or video makers. But I can't find a great programmer to save my life. Someone who can write code for a great purpose and leave the ego at the door.

Is there some sort of freelance community I don't know about?

The Conference Call of Conference Calls

Had the conference call of conference calls yesterday.

Got to chat with the music team for STORY calling-in from all over the country: Trace Rorie and Butch Whitmire from Granger; Sherri Meyer from Chicago; and Jonathan Shelton [above] and Candi Pearson from California.

So ecstatic about this team. They're not just planning music and worship for the event; they're creating experiences. Each song is being developed with layers. It'll be like a box of chocolates on event day.

My Baby

Ainsley and I go to CrossCurrent Church in Virginia Beach, which is largely a community of surfers, fighter pilots and artists. If that's even possible. This amounts to an exorbitant number of flip flops on Sunday mornings, better than average protection from terrorist attacks, and stunning photos of Cody like this one... from Stephanie Beaty.

Big Giveaway at 'Stuff Christians Like'

I love the Jon Acuff.

He's not only one of the funniest guys I know, but probably the smartest.

Big ministry corporations fly him into their headquarters to talk to their staff. He's got a new book coming out soon. And his readership could fill a U2 stadium.

Jon writes a blow-up blog called Stuff Christians Like which has no pictures and makes me uncomfortable on a continual basis. But he's a dear friend and I'm proud to be able to say I knew him when.

Anyway, he's doing a STORY give-away over at SCL that's suited to his audience, inside jokes and all. Would love for you to be in on it too. Here's the prize...

1. A Snuggie – the blanket with arms that kind of spoons you when you wear it.
2. Razzles – the treat that is both a candy and a gum
3. Skittles – good for eating and for throwing at people that are not listening to a sermon
4. The book, “unChristian” by Gabe Lyons and David Kinnaman.
5. The book, “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield (one of Jon's top 3 favorite books ever)
6. The book, “The Divine Commodity” by Skye Jethani
7. The book, “Gifted to Lead” by Nancy Beach
8. The book, “The Monkey and the Fish” by Dave Gibbons
9. A pre-release copy of Mitch Albom’s new book, Have a Little Faith(Tuesday’s with Morrie guy)

Get on over there.

Chance Meeting in Nashville

I was having breakfast at a charming little coffee & pastry shop in downtown Nashville last week, when I met Jonathan Richter sitting next to me. He spied the disturbingly small handwriting in my Moleskine; I noticed the beautiful illustration on his Mac, and we exchanged pleasantries.

I'd never met him before, but had been an unknowing admirer of his work (like the Leigh Nash album cover below). When I asked for his business card, he handed me a coin... that he had made himself... with his info on it. How awesome is that? =)

You've gotta download his Moleskine pages.

This man can dream. And draw.

Photos of StoryUnfolding.com on Flickr

Photos are now up on STORY's Flickr site from StoryUnfolding.com on Wednesday. Shots taken by Joe Gomez.

You're the Bottleneck

I've got a secret.

In every endeavor that I pursue, there is a point where it goes from good to great... but it has nothing to do with me. The tipping point comes when I find someone who is great at whey they do... and then I get out of their way.

It would be depressing if the outcome weren't so great. =)

We're nearing the end of first generation of mega-church pastors. And more and more, I'm hearing that as budgets and attendance are dropping, these leaders are tightening their grips. They're trying to re-engage the hell-bent spirit that grew the church at the beginning.

It's a shame because this chokes the spirit of the staff rather than releases it... which is the key to reinvention, creative solution and growth.

Is it possible that the church leaders have learned the first-half of leadership, but not the second half -- succession? Hmmmm.

Two Filters for Ideas

For every idea I go after, there are at least 20 I've discarded. You'd probably laugh at some of the ideas if I listed them here. =) But there two filters I apply before I go after anything:

1. Does it fit my sweet spot?
I'm not a preacher or a counselor or a supervisor of people. It's taken some humility to acknowledge my blind spots, but I'm getting better at avoiding roles that are no good for anybody. If you ask me to preach at your church, I'm going to squirm pretty hard not to do it. Or wear button-up shirts and sit in a cubicle for that matter. Yikes.

2. Has God anointed this idea?
Sometimes I can't tell until I start taking steps toward it... but it doesn't take long to figure it out. Key influencers say yes; people get behind it; word spreads; and barriers fall away. Most importantly, God gives me a few "sticky" verses that I receive as promises; and I get a deep sense of peace that he's in this. Scared out of my mind, but peaceful.

New Favorite City

Went walking in Nashville late last night. Gorgeous city. And these people love their country music.

On StoryUnfolding.com...

Had an amazing day at Crosspoint Church in Nashville yesterday for StoryUnfolding.com. Pete Wilson did a tremendous job interviewing our panel, and his team... his team at Crosspoint... was phenomenal. Here are some pics by the talented Joe Gomez; I'll post the whole batch by the end of the week.

Set for StoryUnfolding.com

My Private Jet to Nashville

Win a Free DVD of Tim Keller's Prodigal God

The amazing people at Zondervan are offering this incredible give-away in partnership with STORY.

Today, from 2pm CST until 4pm, we're giving away a free copy of Tim Keller's Prodigal God DVD to a random Twitter winner... EVERY 5 MINUTES.

All you have to do is Twitter something... anything... with the URL StoryChicago.com. Creative or retweeted tweets will be given weighted consideration. =)

Our host Pete Wilson will announce the winners LIVE on the StoryUnfolding.com broadcast.

Off to Nashville Today

Had to get up at O'Dark Thirty this morning to catch a 6 AM flight to Nashville. Have never been to Nashville and am really looking forward to it... except I'm pretty sure I'll be so tired that I'll have a pounding headache and nausea the whole time. (I am not a morning person=).

Still, I'll get to see Anne Jackson risen from the dead, Carlos Whittaker, Pete Wilson, Jon Acuff and a slew of amazing artists in the Nashville scene.

And so will you if you tune into StoryUnfolding.com at 2pm CST.

What I Do for Happy Hour

Have I mentioned that I love living in Virginia Beach?

I've Noticed Something

I remember once reading that Jerry Falwell started a television ministry because as he visited Lynchburg homes in the evenings, he saw family after family gathered around the television set.

Over the past 10 years, I've noticed while jogging in my neighborhood at night an increasing number of figures hunched over the computer. Internet killed the video star.

Well, I've noticed something else recently.

On airplanes... everyone around me is reading novels.

Not business books, not leadership books... but fiction novels.

I think Christianity has too many pontificators and not enough storytellers. We dismiss the Francine Rivers of the world as being fluff and miss an entire swath of the American public.

We forget that the greatest theologians of Christiandom have been storytellers. CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien... even John Piper.

I gave up fiction years ago in favor of the church's "leadership movement" but I'm coming back to it now.

If it'll have me.